$75K Reward Offered In Murders Of Mother, Son Who Died In Garage Fire

Officials say several houses in one South Los Angeles neighborhood that have been hit by fires did not have functional smoke alarms. (Photo credit: Alytino Brown)

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — City Council members and police Thursday offered a $75,000 reward for information leading to the suspects responsible for the murders of a woman and her 1-year-old son who died in a South LA garage fire.

Gisella Yauli, 28, and Dillon Reyes were killed on March 5 near their home at 179 E. 50th Street, the Los Angeles Police Department said. The official cause of death was deemed to be smoke inhalation.

The family was living in a detached garage when it caught fire.

Husband and Father, Oscar Reyes, was working during the time of the fire at a restaurant in Studio City called Henry’s Tacos.

“He’s just a very special person,” former employer Janice Hood said of Oscar. “He’s traveled a long distance on the red line and on foot for seven and a half years to work at Henry’s. (He’s) just a lovely young man, who works and takes care of his children and his family.”

Gisella reportedly had her own clothing business, according to Hood.

“(She was) very ambitious, hard-working, she had her little clothing business, and, as I understand it, (she) sent money back to her mother in Peru,” Hood said. “(She) just loved her children.”

Police said the restrained body of Yauli was found inside the home after the flames were extinguished.

Arson investigators later determined the fire was intentionally set and that the mother and son were victims of a homicide.

Anyone with information should contact LAPD Newton Homicide Detectives David Torres or Jose Calzadillas at (323)846-6556.